Families that play together

We find out about the loved ones cheering on some of our favourite sportswomen. Words: Roxy Bourdillon

ELENA DELLE DONNE

The basketball pro speaking about her sister Lizzie, who is blind and deaf, in short film For The Wind

“Lizzie has always been my strength, but going away to play college basketball meant that I had to say goodbye and I just wasn’t ready. I gave up the game I love. Everybody thinks I came home to take care of her but she was the one helping me, getting me out of the worst rut of my life. She gives me perspective.

“If you close your eyes and you can’t hear anything and wind comes across your face and blows your hair, it makes you feel a certain way. To her, it’s just pure joy and it’s incredible to watch something that simple make her so happy. She brought me back. I can remember that first time I touched the ball again and that love was right there. I’ll step outside after a rough practice, feel the wind and it’s like, ‘Oh, there you are, Liz’. Liz has taught me so much. You don’t focus on what you don’t have. You celebrate what you do.”

About DIVA Magazine

We’ve scored big this month, netting a photo shoot with WNBA legend Sue Bird. In an exclusive cover interview with DIVA editor Carrie Lyell, Bird opens up about her 15 seasons in the league, her relationship with US soccer star Megan Rapinoe, and tells us why it’s taken her until now to talk publicly about her sexuality.
Also in this issue…
DIVA Power List 2017: Who are your movers and shakers of the past 12 month?
“I could fall in love with anybody” - singer songwriter Rae Morris chats to DIVA’s Roxy Bourdillon about sexual fluidity
Model Queers: We meet the badass women challenging beauty ideals
Lucie Barât: “We’re all rock and roll”
She shoots, she scores: We catch up with gifted striker Lianne Sanderson
The family who play together: Some of our favourite sportswomen thank their loved ones
Do you speak #Lesmoji? Try our film quiz.
PLUS: Travel, family, reviews and more!